Big question: had Borg won the USO, would he grab the GS at the AO?

[kiki]

The problem with that thumb injury is that it was acute; the blister had ruptured, and gotten infected, within the 24 hours preceding the final.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAIBAJ&dq=connors borg thumb&pg=1026,2195849

Borg resumed playing in Sao Paulo, but that was 12 days later. I would think that's enough time for antibiotics to heal an infection -- at least enough to play in an exo.

Borg considered defaulting the USO final, and actually had defaulted in Dallas a few months earlier with the same thumb problem. It was severe enough then for him to drop out of Dallas, one of the most important events of the time.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...nnors gerulaitis thumb dallas&pg=6904,2974446

That was on May 12. He started playing again in the Italian Open, just 10 days later.

So his recurrent thumb problem was severe enough for him to drop out of big events when it was in the acute stage, but not the sort of problem that lingered more than 10 days, if that.

He was lucky enough with his thumb at both Roland Garrosand Wimnledom;-)

 

[Moose Malloy]

Borg considered defaulting the USO final, and actually had defaulted in Dallas a few months earlier with the same thumb problem. It was severe enough then for him to drop out of Dallas, one of the most important events of the time.

Borg didn't have any break points in the USO final. I wonder if Connors ever had another match where that happened.

 

[jrepac]

Krosero, that's the best summary I've read of the Borg thumb injury at the US Open. Thanks for the info. The articles you cited are very thorough. I still remember watching him serve during that final and early on, his racquet flew out of his hand. I haven't watched the match in a very long time, but I want to say it went to his right towards the net. After that serve, either Trabert or Summerall discussed his thumb injury and how it may be a factor. Jimbo, being the great player he was, pounced. Maybe Borg could have gotten away with that injury against a lesser player, not sure, but not against Connors playing well. Yet, if anyone reads that article, you can see that Borg not only did not use it as an excuse, he painstakingly gave Connors full credit. That's sportsmanship right there, especially given how badly he wanted that US Open title in 1978.

Interesting article...even if what Borg said in the interview was true (he was not in pain) it sounds like his thumb would've been somewhat/completely "dead" from the anesthetic. Hard to see how he could beat Connors in prime form under those conditions. Having said that, there was no way he was going to drop out of the USO final unless he was crippled...too much was at stake. Certainly, the fans would've been tremendously disappointed if he defaulted and the result would've been the same. So, why not give it a go?

 

[jrepac]

But I couldn't think of a better word. You do need a few things to fall in your favour in order to win a major. Borg never got that at the US Open.

Definitely...comparably, I always felt that Becker was somewhat lucky in '85 Wimbledon in that he really did not face any "big names" on his roll to victory. Borg was unlucky at USO, Lendl unlucky at Wimby. I'd even say Connors was a bit unlucky at the FO in a few of matches he lost...you need fate to shine upon you at these events, in addition to great tennis skills.

 

[krosero]

Borg didn't have any break points in the USO final. I wonder if Connors ever had another match where that happened.

Extremely unusual for someone with a serve of his quality.

The other unusual stat is that Borg was credited with making more unforced errors than Connors: 57 vs 47. Adding Borg's 6 double-faults, that comes to 63 vs 47.

And that just completely reverses the normal dynamics of their matches. When Connors beat Borg -- for example in the '76 USO final -- it was by forcing errors from Bjorn. Connors would make more unforced errors than Borg, but he also made more winners; and he would force more errors.

 

[Gizo]

Fair enough I definitely underestimated the severity of that thumb injury, and it was clearly more serious than Connors's injury at Wimbledon the year before. Still I think a vengeful Connors who came out firing on the day would have been a formidable opponent for anyone in any physical condition a US Open final.

I just got a bit fed up sometimes that like with Nadal nowadays, there was always an excuse (provided by Bergelin and not Borg himself who was humble like Nadal is) whenever he lost in a big match.

Fair play to Borg though for not withdrawing from the final and giving it a shot.

 

[jrepac]

Fair enough I definitely underestimated the severity of that thumb injury, and it was clearly more serious than Connors's injury at Wimbledon the year before. Still I think a vengeful Connors who came out firing on the day would have been a formidable opponent for anyone in any physical condition a US Open final.

I just got a bit fed up sometimes that like with Nadal nowadays, there was always an excuse (provided by Bergelin and not Borg himself who was humble like Nadal is) whenever he lost in a big match.

Fair play to Borg though for not withdrawing from the final and giving it a shot.

Borg did not use it as an excuse and gave Connors full credit. Let's face it, you go out there to play, then you are saying you are willing and able. All the top guys have played matches with injuries at one time or another. Bergelin, on the other hand, once again used it as an excuse. Along w/excuses for other critical losses over the years. Bjorn should've gagged him. Nonetheless, under the circumstances, he probably needed to be 110 percent against Connors, who was out for blood. Even a small injury/wound/hindrance was going to present a problem.

 

[Gizo]

Borg did not use it as an excuse and gave Connors full credit. Let's face it, you go out there to play, then you are saying you are willing and able. All the top guys have played matches with injuries at one time or another. Bergelin, on the other hand, once again used it as an excuse. Along w/excuses for other critical losses over the years. Bjorn should've gagged him. Nonetheless, under the circumstances, he probably needed to be 110 percent against Connors, who was out for blood. Even a small injury/wound/hindrance was going to present a problem.

Yes a scenario where I liked a player but didn't like his coach. Bjorn must have been embarrassed when he read and heard all of Bergelin's excuses and moaning during his career. Of course as you said he shouldn't be held responsible at all for his coach acting like a clown.

 

[Vegito]

Vilas played very well in the Australian Open editions of 1978 and 1979. He won also the Masters there in 1974(there he beat Borg, Newcombe, Ramírez and Nastase) He was so hard to beat in the grass of Kooyong.

 

[kiki]

Vilas played very well in the Australian Open editions of 1978 and 1979. He won also the Masters there in 1974(there he beat Borg, Newcombe, Ramírez and Nastase) He was so hard to beat in the grass of Kooyong.

He also was a finalist in 1977 and a semifinalist in 1981.Certainly, he enjoyed playing there.

 

[kiki]

As I posted before, Borg used to play some big finals with severe injury or risk of one.1976 and 1980 Wimbledon, the 1978 US Open and, among others, the 1977 Spanish Open, where he had high fever all the week and went from bed to the court then back to bed day in day off.He beat Manuel Orantes in 5 sets ( so much for fever¡¡¡) in the finals.

His body and will was exceptional.